SALAD! Now that’s something I really really longed for when I was much younger. Unfortunately, the closest I ever got to it then was hearing about it from my primary school classmates. It was never part of our meal plan because it was a luxury back then and it just wasn’t one of the things my parents could be bothered about.
The fact is that I actually never knew what it looked or tasted like, but I seriously wanted it, simply because I knew some of my classmates were enjoying it regularly. Another fact is that though I never had salad, I never lacked food to eat and my parents did the very best they could within their means.
Fast forward to the day I finally had the opportunity to fall on vegetable salad, I could not understand why I actually thought I was missing something. There was no light bulb moment and there were no drum rolls in my ears. At the heart of the craving was the fact that someone else had it and I felt I should have it too.
The feeling or craving that I had in those early days is similar to the feeling we have as adults when we want something we feel we should have, especially when our contemporaries are enjoying the very same things. It could be anything ranging from position, car, real estate, job, network, children and spouse to clothes and holidays. When we don’t have it, we feel as if we are missing something great. When we eventually get it, buyer’s remorse sets in.
This feeling is a very good breeding ground for ingratitude and envy. We unconsciously become blind-sided by those things that we don’t have. We fail to enjoy the moment and thank God for where we are and for the things that we have. The promises of God fade from our vision and begin to appear unreal. Promises such as:
“For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope”. Jer 29:11 (NLT)
“So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’ These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. Matt 6: 31-32 (NLT)
And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them. Romans 8:28 (NLT)
Jesus knew that the days of such feelings will come, so we already have this warning in Luke 12:15
Speaking to the people, he went on, “Take care! Protect yourself against the least bit of greed. Life is not defined by what you have, even when you have a lot.” (MSG)
Paul also lent his voice in his letter to Timothy
Yet true godliness with contentment is itself great wealth. After all, we brought nothing with us when we came into the world, and we can’t take anything with us when we leave it. 1Tim 6: 6 -7 (NLT)
What is it that I don’t have right now that I desire to have? Instead of dwelling on those things, I can choose to take a step back and instead think of the things that I have and give God praise for them. If we Meditate on the love and sovereign power of the ALL SUFFICIENT GOD, this will help us magnify God instead of the challenges and the peace of God that passes all understanding will flood our hearts.
Chidi Ukandu's Blog 